Democracy Quotes for the People, by Libertas Bella

Table of Contents

“Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.”
– George Carlin

Before we dive into the democracy quotes, consider this very important stuff I’ve written.

Long has mankind grasped at the ideal form of government. The first was pelting unpopular tribesmen with rocks. (This form of governance is still implemented in certain parts of the world today.) We eventually realized that government could become far more efficient if we sharpened our rocks before throwing them, and then a bunch of ancient Greeks got bombed off a vat of wine and came up with democracy. The morning after they wished they had invented aspirin and blue Powerade instead.

Democracy: “rule by the people.” Under this form of government, citizens decide on important legislation or choose from a class of other people called “politicians” to decide on important legislation on their behalf. In the latter case, politicians will carefully consider how their constituents would like them to vote, and then vote however the corporations and special interest groups which financed their election campaigns would prefer.

Is democracy perfect? A democratic government is ultimately as good as the people who participate in it, so, in a word, no. You’re obviously very smart, but imagine just how staggeringly stupid most other people seem to be. And their votes all count just as much as yours – unless you live in California, in which case your vote is worth about one-third as much as a Wyomingite’s.

Is democracy the best form of government? Maybe. Your own opinion of it largely hinges on which McPoliticalParty™ you prefer, and how well it did in the previous Free & Fair Election™. Ultimately, the only ideal form of government is dictatorship, and in that case, it’s only ideal for the dictator. But because too few of us are charismatic enough to ever become dictators, democracy will just have to do for now.

Best Democracy Quotes

democracy quotes - "'democratic' in its original meaning [refers to] unlimited majority rule... a social system in which one's work, one's property, one's mind..."
“‘Democratic’ in its original meaning [refers to] unlimited majority rule … a social system in which one’s work, one’s property, one’s mind, and one’s life are at the mercy of any gang that may muster the vote of a majority at any moment for any purpose.”
– Ayn Rand
democracy quotes - "The American system is not a democracy. It is a constitutional...'
“The American system is not a democracy. It is a constitutional republic. A democracy, if you attach meaning to terms, is a system of unlimited majority rule; the classic example is ancient Athens. And the symbol of it is the fate of Socrates, who was put to death legally, because the majority didn’t like what he was saying, although he had initiated no force and had violated no one’s rights.

“Democracy, in short, is a form of collectivism, which denies individual rights: the majority can do whatever it wants with no restrictions. In principle, the democratic government is all-powerful. Democracy is a totalitarian manifestation; it is not a form of freedom…

“The American system is a constitutionally limited republic, restricted to the protection of individual rights. In such a system, majority rule is applicable only to lesser details, such as the selection of certain personnel. But the majority has no say over the basic principles governing the government. It has no power to ask for or gain the infringement of individual rights.”
– Ayn Rand, Textbook of Americanism
democracy quotes - "Many forms of government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that..."
“Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”
– Winston Churchill
democracy quotes - "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."
“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.”
– Winston Churchill
democracy quotes - "Democracy, will soon degenerate into an anarchy, such an anarchy that every man..."
“Democracy, will soon degenerate into an anarchy, such an anarchy that every man will do what is right in his own eyes, and no man’s life or property or reputation or liberty will be secure and every one of these will soon mold itself into a system of subordination of all the moral virtues, and intellectual abilities, all the powers of wealth, beauty, wit, and science, to the wanton pleasures, the capricious will, and the execrable cruelty of one or a very few.”
– John Adams
democracy quotes - "Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself..."
“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.
– John Adams
democracy quotes - "It is one of the evils of democratical governments, that the people..."
“It is one of the evils of democratical governments, that the people, not always seeing and frequently misled, must often feel before they can act right; but then evil of this nature seldom fail to work their own cure.”
– George Washington
democracy quotes - "Where a majority are united by a common sentiment, and have an opportunity, the rights..."
“Where a majority are united by a common sentiment, and have an opportunity, the rights of the minor party become insecure.”
– James Madison
democracy quotes - "Democracies have ever been specticales of turbulence and contention; have ever been found..."
“Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.”
– James Madison
democracy quotes - "REal liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy..."
“Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments.”
– Alexander Hamilton
democracy quotes - "Too many... love pure democracy dearly. They seem not to consider that pure democracy, like pure rum..."
“Too many … love pure democracy dearly. They seem not to consider that pure democracy, like pure rum, easily produces intoxication, and with it a thousand mad pranks and fooleries.”
– John Jay
democracy quotes - "A democracy is a volcano which conceals the fiery materials of its own..."
“A democracy is a volcano which conceals the fiery materials of its own destruction. These will produce an eruption and carry desolation in their way.”
– Fisher Ames
democracy quotes - "The evils we experience flow from the excess of democracy. The people do not want virtue..."
“The evils we experience flow from the excess of democracy. The people do not want virtue, but are the dupes of pretended patriots.”
– Elbridge Gerry
democracy quotes - "Only a government that is rich and safe can afford to be a democracy, for democracy is the most..."
“Only a government that is rich and safe can afford to be a democracy, for democracy is the most expensive and nefarious kind of government ever heard of on earth.”
– Mark Twain
democracy quotes - "Strip the human race, absolutely naked, and it would be a real democracy..."
“Strip the human race, absolutely naked, and it would be a real democracy. But the introduction of even a rag of tiger skin, or a cowtail, could make a badge of distinction and be the beginning of a monarchy.”
– Mark Twain
democracy quotes - "People are always teaching us democracy but the people who teach us democracy don't want to learn themselves."
“People are always teaching us democracy but the people who teach us democracy don’t want to learn it themselves.”
– Vladimir Putin
democracy quotes - "Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy..."
“Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force.”
– Vladimir Putin
democracy quotes - "Democracy is talking itself to death. The people do not know what they want; they do not know what is the best for them..."
“Democracy is talking itself to death. The people do not know what they want; they do not know what is the best for them. There is too much foolishness, too much lost motion. I have stopped the talk and the nonsense. I am a man of action. Democracy is beautiful in theory; in practice it is a fallacy. You in America will see that some day.”
– Benito Mussolini
democracy quotes - "Democracy is a poor system of government at best; the only thing that can honestly be said in its..."
“Democracy is a poor system of government at best; the only thing that can honestly be said in its favor is that it is about eight times as good as any other method the human race has ever tried. Democracy’s worst faults is that its leaders are likely to reflect the faults and virtues of their constituents – a depressingly low level, but what else can you expect?”
– Robert Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land
democracy quotes - "As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely..."
“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”
– H.L. Mencken
democracy quotes - "Democracy is the art of science of running the circus from the monkey cage..."
“Democracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage.”
– H.L. Mencken
democracy quotes - "The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush..."
“The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment.”
– Robert M. Hutchins
democracy quotes - "All the blood is drained out of democracy - it dies - when only half the population votes..."
“All the blood is drained out of democracy — it dies — when only half the population votes.”
– Hunter S. Thompson
democracy quotes - "There is no state with a democracy except Libya on the whole planet..."
“There is no state with a democracy except Libya on the whole planet.”
– Mu’ammar Al-Qadhdhāfī
democracy quotes - "Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner."
“Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.”
– James Bovard

Which of those democracy quotes is your favorite? Cast your vote by texting 5577 to 1-(900)-LIBERTY, or by ordering a T-shirt and noting your favorite quote in the special shipping instructions. Remember – your vote matters, unless you vote incorrectly.